“Tommy John” surgery for Devine

It’s about an hour until first pitch this afternoon at Yankee Stadium. No sign of rain, but still overcast skies. As for your morning A’s news:

Manager Bob Geren confirmed that Joey Devine had reconstructive surgery on his elbow (Tommy John surgery), and that the estimated time for recovery is 8 months to a year. Fautino De Los Santos, the A’s prospect who had the procedure last May, has taken about a full year to recover, so I’d say that’s the more realistic timetable.

As I wrote this morning, it’s obviously a costly blow for the A’s. Devine was being counted on to share the ninth inning this season. And though Brad Ziegler has been solid as the closer, it hurts not having a pitcher of Devine’s caliber available as a late-game option.

No Eric Chavez in the lineup today, as it’s a day game after a night game. Geren said during the spring that Chavez wouldn’t play in day games after night games, but he’s hoping it won’t be necessary as the season goes on. Bobby Crosby gets the call at third today, with Jason Giambi DH’ing and Landon Powell playing first.

Nomar Garciaparra is hitting today and doing a little more running, and he told me this morning he’s aiming to return Friday. Tomorrow’s offday gives him an extra day of rest. The A’s have missed his bat against this slew of lefty pitchers they’ve faced. But as Geren said, “Nomar is a good hitter, period. He’s not necessarily better against lefties or righties. Missing a bat of his caliber always (hurts).”

One last tidbit: It’s confirmed that the A’s and Yankees will make up Monday’s rainout on July 23 at Yankee Stadium, meaning they’ll now play a four-game series here July 23-26.